Top of the World

Ronaldo's Honours
Cristiano Ronaldo has been named best player in the world by FourFourTwo. Here are his other honours from a glorious 2008 for United's no. 7...

●FIFPro World Player of the Year
●FIFPro World XI
●PFA Player of the Year
●PFA Fans’ Player of the Year
●PFA Premier League Team of the Year
●Football Writers' Association Player of the Year
●European Golden Shoe
●Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year
●United Players' Player of the Year
●United Goal of the Season (v Portsmouth)
●Barclays Player of the Season
●Barclays Golden Boot
●Barclays Merit Prize
●UEFA Club Player of the Year
●UEFA Best Forward

Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo has been named Best Player in the World in FourFourTwo magazine’s annual countdown of the top 100 footballers on the planet.

The Portuguese beat off the challenge of Barcelona’s Argentinian genius Lionel Messi and Spain’s Euro 2008 hero Fernando Torres, who finished second and third respectively. Last year’s winner, Kaka (AC Milan and Brazil), was fifth.

“There were other contenders, but ultimately Ronaldo’s personal achievements, coupled with his team’s success, secured him the No.1 spot,” said FourFourTwo editor-in-chief Hugh Sleight.

The award comes at the end of a remarkable year for the former Sporting Lisbon winger, in which he has lifted the Premier League title and the Champions League with United, as well as being named PFA Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year.

He will now hope to add the European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year awards to his collection next month.

Ronaldo’s place at the top of the list is mirrored by the Premier League. England’s top division has an amazing 31 players in the Top 100, more than any other country. Spain’s Primera Liga has 30 representatives and Italy’s Serie A 23.

“The reason we go for 100 players is because it’s far more interesting,” added Sleight. “It won’t surprise anyone to see Ronaldo named No.1 because there are only ever one or two real contenders for best player in the world – in the last decade, it’s been Zidane, then Ronaldinho, then Kaka, now Ronaldo.

“What’s arguably of more interest to football fans is who finishes from two to 100.

“We knew when we got into this that we’d be stirring up a hornet’s nest. Most fans could waste a day arguing whether Steven Gerrard is better than Frank Lampard or vice versa, so imagine what it’s like trying to rank 100 players in order. But we’re confident that our 100 stands up to scrutiny.”

FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Players in the World: The Top 10
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
2. Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
3. Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
4. Iker Casillas (Real Madrid)
5. Kaka (AC Milan)
6. David Villa (Valencia)
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Inter Milan)
8. Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid)
9. Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United)
10. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

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